Automatic gas heater for printing presses



Sept. 23, 1941'. w. R. HILDEBRAND 2 1 AUTOMATIC GAS HEATER FOR PRINTINGPRESSES I Filed April 24, 41939 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORWillz'mRHz'Zdebrazrzd ATTORNEY Sept. 23, 1941- w. R. HILDEBRANDAUTOMATIC GAS HEATER FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed April 24, 1939 3Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR V Mlliem RM'Zdebu-md BY V ATTORNEY p 1941! w. R.HILDEBRAND 2257,010

AUTOMATIC GAS HEATER FOR PRINTING PRESSES' Filed April 24, 1939 3Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR William Rllildamnd Patented Sept. 23, 1941UNITED STAT OFFICE.-

AUTOMATIC GAS HEATER FOR PRINTING PRESSES 1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in an automaticgas heater for a printing press and a method for drying printedmaterial. 7

The invention proposes the use of gas burners to the front and to therear of an extension delivery of a printing press, and a novelarrangement for controlling said burners. The purpose of locating theburners at difierent points relative to the extension delivery is thatthe amount of heat applicable at one point of the delivery is limited.If the heat exceeds a certain amount ie paper will be scorched or burnt.The app-lication of burners at spaced positions permits the paper tocool ofi before it is re-heated when reaching the second position. Thefirst heating, subsequent cooling, and subsequent lie-heating will drythe printed paper to a degree impossible with the heretofore one pointheating arrangement. I will be so dry as to reduce, if not completelyeliminate, smudging and smearing.

Still further the invention resides in the specific arrangement forcontrolling the burners.

Another object of the invention resides in the teaching of a method forthe drying of the ink.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings and to the appended claim in which the variousnovel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a printing The ink, with theinstant arrangement,

press having an extension delivery and an automatic gas heaterconstructed according to this invention.

2 is a perspective schematic view of the extension delivery and theautomatic gas heater applied thereto. 7

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of that portion of theautomatic gas heater which is mounted upon the printing pressimmediately below the operating control handle thereof Fig. 4 is anelevational View looking in the direction of the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 4.

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of one of the valves for controlling oneof the burners.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 88 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the 1ine 9 9 ofFig. 2.- V Fig. 10 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on theline l0|0 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 11 is a side elevational view of another valve for controllinganother one of the gas burners.

The automatic gas heater for printing presses, according to thisinvention, is used in combination with a printing press it!schematically illustrated in Fig. l, and of any design and constructionprovided that-it has a movable handle II to set it in operation. Inconjunction With the printing press it is required that there be anextension delivery !2 which may also be of any design or constructionand serves to receive. the printed sheets as theyleave the press andconvey them to an extended point. .Such extension'deliveries are used atthe present time. The extension delivery !2 stacks the printed sheetsupon a pile it supported upon a suitable table IS. The inventioncontemplates the useof gas burners l6 and :li at the front and totherear, respectively,

.of said extension delivery !2 to apply heat to the printed material atthese points. Theburner l6 comprises merely a tube i6 formed With alongitudinahy extending row of burner apertures lfi through which thegas discharges. These apertures 16 preferably are directed at an anglefrontwise (see Fig. 9). so that the full force of the heat of the flameis not imparted to the sheet of printed material asit passes. At one endthe burner i5 is provided with an "annular housing E8 attached at itsbottom side lfl tothe bottom side of the pipe lfi and at its top beingspaced from the top of the pipe Ili so that there is a passage ISL; Apilot tube 20 is disposed Within this passage I!) and is adapted tolight the burner !6 as hereinafter more fully described.

The burner I! also comprises a tube H formed with a plurality ofapertures 11 extendedin a line along the longitudinal length of the tube17 but upon the top thereof so that the full force of the heat of theflame may be imparted to the sheet of printed material as it passes. Atone end of the tube I! there is an annular housing 2| attached to thetube l1 and at the top spaced therefrom to form a passage 22. Withinthis passage there is a pilot tube 23 adapted to light the burner ashereinafter more fully described.

A body 25 is mounted upon'the press ill at a point directly beneath thehandle ll (see Fig. 1). This body comprises sheet metal bent in the formof an'angle to have a top arm 25 and a.

vertical arm A channel member 26 is attached to the vertical arm 25 andis adapted to straddle the edge of an opening Ill formed in the frame ofthe printing press l0. Several clamp screws 21 are mounted upon one ofthe arms of the channel member 26 and are adapted to clamp the frame ofthe printing press It] to fixedly support the body 25 at a desiredlocation from the handle I l as hereinafter more fully described.

A gas supply pipe 28 is mounted upon the body 25 and includes a nipple28 for receiving a flexible hose for supplying gas, an elbow 28connected with the nipple 28 and in turn connected with a cross pipefitting 28. This cross pipe fitting 28 is mounted beneath the top arm 25of the body 25. The top arm of the cross fitting 28 connects with a maincontrol valve 29 which is located upon the top of the arm 25 A means isprovided for connecting the handle H with the main valve 29 forcontrolling the valve. This means includes a bracket 30 mounted upon thevalve 29 and pivotally supporting the lever 3| having a finger 32normally engaging against a plunger 33 of the valve 29. The lever 32 atits extremity is provided with a link 34 which connects with a chain 35connected with the handle The arrangement is such that when the handleII is thrown to start the printing press the chain 35 will be drawn tolift the lever 32, which in turn indirectly will press in the plunger 33and so open the valve 29.

Branch pipe systems 35 and 36 connect with the gas supply valve 29 pastthe said valve for supplying gas to the gas burners. These branch pipesystems may be traced by starting at the valve 29 which connects with aT-pipe connection 31. The branch pipe system 35 is connected with oneside of this T 31, while the branch pipe system 36 connects with theother side of the T. The branch pipe system 35 includes an elbow 35directly connected with the T 31, a nipple 35 connecting with the elbow35, a hose 35 and a valve 35 controlling the burner IS. The burner l6has a side arm l6 which terminates in an air mixing member 38. The valve35 controls passage of gas through this air mixing member 38.

The branch pipe system 36 includes an elbow 36 which connects with avalve 39, in turn connected with one side of the T-pipe fitting 31. Theelbow 36 also connects with a nipple 36 which in turn is connected witha pipe 36 which extends to and connects to a burner control valve 36This burner control valve controls the burner I1. An air mixing member40 is associated with the burner I! for mixing the correct amount of airwith the burner so that it operates properly. The burner Ill has anextension arm I1 and it is upon the end of this arm that the air mixingmember 40 is mounted.

Pilot bleed pipes are also connected with the gas supply pipe 28, but tothe front of the main valve, for the purpose of continuously supplyingthe pilot burners with gas. There is one pilot bleed pipe system whichmay be traced from a control valve 4| mounted upon one side of the crossfitting 28. This control valve 4| is adapted to be adjusted to regulatethe size of the pilot flame. This control valve 4| controls the passageof gas through a tube 4| which enters through the side of the nipple 36so as to extend coaxially from the nipple as illustrated in Fig. 3. Thistube 4| extends through the entire length of the pipe 36 emerging 'atthe point 4| (see Fig. 2) and at this point entering through one of theopenings of the air supply member 49 so as to extend through the armll"- of the burner This tube 4 l continues through the arm ll of theburner and connects with the pilot burner 23 which is on the outside ofthe tube but beneath the annular member 2|.

The other pilot bleed system is controlled by a valve 43 which ismounted upon a elbow 44 connected with another elbow 45 which in turnconmeets with the other side of the cross fitting 28. The valve 43 isconstructed so as to control the supply of gas through a pilot tube 43This pilot tube 43* extends upwards and through one side of the nipple35 (see Fig. 3) and continues and extends coaxially thereof. The tube 43continues through the pipe 35 until a point slightly before the valve 35At this point the tube 43 emerges from the side of the tube 35, isturned several times about the valve 35 merely for the purpose ofsupport, and at the point 43 enters through one of the openings of theair mixing member 38. The tube 43* then continues through the arm |6 ofthe burner and finally emerges at one point and connects with the pilotburner 20 which is exterior of the pipe IS.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The valves 4| and 43 are regulated to supply the necessary amount of gasto the pilot burners 20 and 23. These pilot burners are lit and burncontinuously. Whenever the handle of the printing press is thrown tostart the operation of the press the motion will be transmitted by thechain 35 to the lever 3| which opens the valve 29. This permits the gasfrom the main supply 28 to flow to the burners 6 and I1. Immediately thepilots 2D and 23 light the gas emerging from the burners and thus theburners become lit. As the paper leaves the printing press it will firstpass over the burner l6 which supplies an initial quantity of heat toquickly dry th ink on the paper to a certain degree. The burner l6 hasits flame directed at an angle towards the moving paper and the size ofthe flame of the burner l6 may be controlled by the valve 35 so that asuitable quantity of heat will be supplied without scorching or damagingthe paper.

When the extension delivery 2 moves the paper to the rear, a certaininterval of time will elapse during which the heated paper will have anopportunity to cool. It now is ready to be re-heated by the burner l1.This heating, then cooling, and re-heating of the paper will act to morequickly dry the printed ink than Was heretofore possible when having butone heater in operation. The size of the flame of the burner |1 may becontrolled by the valve 36 While I have illustrated and described thepreferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I donot limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed. and theright is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within thescope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:

In a printing press having a delivery conveyor, a horizontally disposed,elongated tubular main burner having a plurality of flame apertures inthe top thereof, means supporting the burner beneath said conveyor, amain supply conduit for gas connected with said main burner, a shut-01fvalve in said main" supply conduit to said main supply conduit, saidconduit means 10 comprising a relatively small pipe having one endtapped into said main conduit in front of said shut-off valve, said pipeexternally by-passing said shut-off valve and said control valve andentering said main conduit through one of said apertures in said airmixing valve, and thence passing through said main conduit to said pilotburner in said main burner.

WILLIAM R. HILDEBRAND.

